April 22nd was Earth Day and our auto repair shop wants to remind you that our environment and our planet are precious enough to celebrate every day, not just one day each year. So as road trip season comes to a start, we thought it would be appropriate to share some of the best ways to hit the road and be eco-friendly at the same time. Modifying our driving habits and the way we think about road trips could help reduce our carbon footprints and give a little back to the environment. By reducing emissions and improving fuel economy, your next road trip could be eco-friendly – something you can feel good about.

It isn’t always what you drive, but how you drive that is most important. One of the easiest ways to stay eco-friendly while driving is altering your driving habits. If your car has cruise control, take advantage of it. Experts say that cruise control can prevent unnecessary speed changes which waste gas and increases emissions. Likewise, even if you’re driving at a constant speed, going too fast wastes gas. Within the range of normal highway speeds, each 10 miles per hour faster will reduce your fuel economy by 15% to 20%, according to tests by Consumer Reports and Edmunds.com. Aggressive acceleration and hard braking waste an amazing amount of fuel. In testing by Edmunds.com, aggressive driving cut fuel economy by about 25%. Lighten the load before you head out too. Extra weight impacts fuel economy. Packing stuff on roof-top bins and racks cut fuel economy by about 21%, according to tests done by Edmunds.com.

Here at our auto repair shop we are big on preventative auto maintenance. We want to help you get your car performing at its best before you hit the road. It will improve fuel economy, reduce emissions, and improve your safety on the road. Some of the most important services are brakes, checking vital fluids, battery, service oil changes, tires, and also checking belts and important systems. We will care for your vehicle just as we would our own before heading out on the road. It is great to be road trip ready this spring, but it’s even better to be eco-friendly ready. Road trips that keep the environment in mind don’t have to be shorter or in a hybrid vehicle. By altering your driving habits, reducing the interior weight of your vehicle, and preparing your vehicle for optimal performance, you will be ready for your upcoming eco-friendly road trip.